In November 2013, in New York, there was an exhibition of photographs.
In the exhibition, there was this one particular photo that made every person shocked.
The picture was about a white swan on the calm lake. However, the swan wasn’t alive.
The photographer who took the picture was Nick Brandt. Nick professionally took photos of the African natures.
The picture that Nick exhibited was taken in Natron Lake, which is located in Africa, Tanzania.
The Natron Lake is well known to be the habitat of flamingos.
Three years ago in 2010,
Nick went to Natron Lake to take pictures of the flamingos. However, Nick was shocked that the color of the lake was red.
Nick finds a swan floating on the calm red lake. However, the swan that looked alive was surprisingly dead.
The swan remained in the position when it was alive, but was completely dried.
Not only the dead swan, but there were also many more animals found dead as the swan was.
All the animals were in a position that they were alive. Some birds looked like it was going to fly into the sky. An eagle was sitting on a branch — the horrifying eye of a bat.
However, they were all dead as a stone.
People started to call this lake “The lake of Medusa” as it turns everything into stone.
Then why is this happening?
A reporter, Dina Spector, from the “Business Insider” started to investigate oh this phenomenon.
Dina visited Carter Roberts as he is the president of the WWF (World Wild Fund for Nature) who majored studying in the environment and researching African environments.
Dina and Carter started to investigate why these phenomenons were happening in Natron Lake.
Later, Carter announced the results for the research.
He claimed that the reason why the animals turned into rocks is because of sodium bicarbonate.
Sodium bicarbonate is normally a natural soda which is used in medication, baking powder, or dishwashing soap.
Natron Lake had a higher amount of this sodium bicarbonate than any other lakes.
When a lake has high sodium bicarbonate, there are few unique characteristics different from natural lakes.
Strong Basicity
Red bacteria that is strong to basic will be activated and will make the lake look red.
A high basicity lake can melt proteins and corrode skin.
If an animal approaches the lake, the skin and organs will immediately corroded and die.
Also Dangerous to humans
1950, Leslie Brown, an ornithologist, visited the Natron Lake to research the flamingo’s habitat. Leslie accidentally fell in the lake and had to be hospitalized as his legs were severely corroded. He could only survive after skin transplant surgery.
Hygroscopic
Sodium Bicarbonate has a high hygroscopic
the sodium bicarbonate is left in the animal’s body and drains the water out.
Why does the Natron lake have such high sodium bicarbonate?
6km away from Natron Lake, there is an active volcanic mountain named “Ol Doinyo.” The lava from the volcano fled to the Natron lake and releasing the sodium bicarbonate in the water.
Then why doesn’t the flamingos are affected?
Flamingos are the only mammal that does not be infected by the sodium bicarbonate. The long and thin legs are resistant from corrosive water, making the flamingos safe in the Natron Lake.
For the flamingos, the lake was a sanctuary that prevented the access of their enemies.
A paradise for the flamingos, but death to the others.
“Surprise” ep. 05/03/2015